• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.407-418
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to survey the problem of teachers' narrative reporting of children's science learning in elementary school report cards. For the purposes of this study, a questionnaire, comprised of 6 questions and an analysis tool (Cronbach's $\alpha=.70$) were developed to categorize the answers. The survey was conducted by 53 teachers, who are currently taking 5th ade in elementary school, and the results are as follows: First, they interpreted the same content of report cards in a variety of different ways. Second, they exhibited a number of different principles and criteria in terms of preparing the content of narrative report cards. Third, they experienced difficulties in preparing narrative report cards on science teaming which required explanation of complete processes. Fourth, most teachers surveyed answered that the content of their narrative reports on science learning did not communicate specifically the students' achievement and further studies. Fifth, the activities related to preparing the content of the science learning on narrative reports was widely perceived to be useless for teachers' professional development. Finally, teachers made a number of alternative proposals to overcome the current, perceived problems of teachers' narrative reporting for children's science learning in report cards. Based on the results of this analysis, alternative forms and content of narrative reports on science learning were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2005

Smith(2001) calls for practice-based professional development for teachers of mathematics. This paper discusses laboratory class as a model for conducting professional development program for a group f elementary school mathematics teachers. The laboratory class seeks to promote teachers' generative growth (Carpenter & Levi, 1999) and all the core and structural features (Garet, Porter, Desimone, Birman & Kwang, 2001) of a professional development are also engaged in this program and the ultimate goal is for teachers to be reflective in their practices to be generative (Carpenter & Leher, 1999) in their teaching and learning. This paper also discusses the design of the laboratory class based on the principles of reflective thinking and psychological observation by Dewey to connect theory with practice.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.127-141
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• 2007

This paper compares and analyzes mathematics teachers' understanding of students' mathematical comprehension after experiences with the Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) or the Development of Mathematical Ideas (DMI) teaching strategies. This report sheds light on current issues confronted by the educational system in the context of mathematics teaching and learning. In particular, the declining rate of mathematical literacy among adolescents is discussed. Moreover, examples of CGI and DMI teaching strategies are presented to focus on the impact of these teaching styles on student-centered instruction, teachers' belief, and students' mathematical achievement, conceptual understanding and word problem solving skills. Hence, with a gradual enhancement of reformed ways of teaching mathematics in schools and the reported increase in student achievement as a result of professional development with new teaching strategies, teacher professional development programs that emphasize teachers' understanding of students' mathematical comprehension is needed rather than the currently dominant traditional pedagogy of direct instruction with a focus on teaching problem solving strategies.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.109-124
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• 2012

Developing pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) has been emphasized for teacher's professionalism and it should be done from systematic teacher training courses. In this study, we investigated changes of elementary pre-service teachers' PCK of science teaching and motivational strategies before and after a training course. For the analysis of pre-service teachers' PCK, their lesson plans, surveys, and interviews were collected. According to the results, in the beginning of the semester, pre-service teachers in the experimental group usually used didactic or combination of didactic and inquiry teaching strategies and a few pre-service teachers used inquiry or discovery teaching strategies when making lesson plans. However, at the end of the semester many pre-service teachers used inquiry teaching strategies in their lessons which included activities of asking students' prior knowledge, conducing experiments, finding conclusion, and comparing teachers' explanations with students' explanations. Regarding motivational strategies, in the beginning of the semester they focused using activities to create student's emotional interest in science lesson but at the end they used other strategies to create positive atmosphere for learning, capture intellectual interest in science, and connect science to students' everyday lives. The changes in pre-service teachers' PCK in the experimental group was meaningful because there was less change in pre-service teachers' PCK in the control group. This study implies the need for effective professional development programs for developing pre-service teachers' PCK.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.373-395
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• 2010

In this research, I reported the activities of learning community on elementary mathematics which is consist of 1 university researcher 4 elementary teachers. The main activities of learning community are as follows: establishing objectives and contents of learning community, writing the critical essay on elementary mathematics lesson, and reflecting on the activities of learning community. The establishment of objectives and contents of learning community was built through agreement between university researcher and elementary teachers. In addition to, the members of learning community could share the idea and difficulties on elementary mathematics lesson and increase the professional development on elementary mathematics lesson by criticizing the lesson together.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.467-488
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• 2016

The main purpose of this study was to introduce a self-study as one way to enhance instructional expertise in mathematics. This paper summarized the concept, characteristics, and methods of self-study in order to inform teachers of the usefulness of a self-study for their professional development. This paper then presented a self-study practice manuals for teachers to follow the self-study step by step. It described a case in which an elementary school teacher applied the self-study practice manuals to her mathematics teaching. This paper closes with implications for teachers to employ a self-study.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-62
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the status of environment-related teaching in elementary and secondary schools. A questionnaire survey was conducted for the study. Items in the questionnaire were developed based on the theory of environmental education and integrated education. The questionnaire was responded to 501 elementary school teachers, 273 middle school teachers, and 210 high school teachers in the city of Seoul and Kyunggi Province. The survey analysis revealed that elementary and secondary school teachers recognized 'environmental action skills' as the most important objective for school environmental education. Contrary to the teachers' expectations, it was found that there is insufficient teaching and learning materials for teaching in the domain of 'environmental action skills' and they could not confidently teach the skills in environment-related classes. For professional development of teachers in integrated environmental education, pre- and in-service programs will be developed systematically in a workshop to give teachers an opportunity to analyze teaching materials, design instruction plan, perform class trial, and evaluate the class situation for feedback. The results of this study can serve as a basic reference for improvement of environment-related subject education.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.241-251
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• 2024

Mathematics educators have examined mathematical modeling, where students tackle authentic real-life problems and develop problem-solving strategies with a sense of agency. However, few empirical studies have been conducted to illuminate the developmental process of teachers' competencies in mathematical modeling, particularly for elementary school teachers. Scholars have noted that elementary mathematics teachers can effectively teach mathematical modeling by designing tasks that consider students' abilities and preferences. In this vein, this review paper introduces a study conducted by Jung (2023), which examines the developmental process of an elementary school mathematics teacher's competencies in mathematical modeling and how she overcame related challenges.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.341-355
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• 2011

A research group consisting of some mathematics education scholars and school teachers has been formed to build a website which intended to combine both theories and practices of mathematical teaching since 2002. There were three working stages: video-tapping realistic math teaching, developing video discs of different themes, and designing e-Learning. The group members learned knowledge of teaching by actual participating. On the other hand, the products enabled the audience to get professional development in knowledge of both mathematics and teaching. Management process of this group and effects upon the participants and users will be presented and discussed in this paper. A research group consisting of some mathematics education scholars and school teachers has been formed to build a website which intended to combine both theories and practices of mathematical teaching since 2002. There were three working stages: video-tapping realistic math teaching, developing video discs of different themes, and designing e-Learning. The group members learned knowledge of teaching by actual participating. On the other hand, the products enabled the audience to get professional development in knowledge of both mathematics and teaching. Management process of this group and effects upon the participants and users will be presented and discussed in this paper.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-182
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze the professionalism of elementary school teachers and to draw out factors which elementary teachers should try to improve their professionalism for environmental education. For the study, both Quantitative analysis and qualitative methodologies were applied: First, randomly selected 483 elementary teachers from Seoul and Gyeonggi self responded to 5 evaluation areas by Hungerford et al. (1994) to evaluate their environmental education professionalism through the use of five point Likert scale. Second, 2 elementary teachers' environmental classes were observed for the purpose of analyzing strengths and weaknesses in classroom instruction, and then the results of self-evaluation on environmental education professionalism and teacher professionalism as shown in the classes were compared. It was found that 483 elementary teachers including 2 teachers fer analyzing classroom instruction who performed a self-evaluation gave themselves mid-scores on the Hungerford et al.'s 5 evaluation areas. However, the result of self-evaluation did not correspond with the result of actual class observation and teacher interview. That is, the actual environmental classes conducted by 2 teachers did not seemed to reflect the evaluation areas which were the foundation of the study: the conceptual awareness, the investigation & evaluation, environmental action skills, and educational application. The results of this study can be used as the basis reference to develop teaching-learning program and in-service programs for professional development of teachers for successful application of environmental education in elementary school classes.